Easy Raw: Raw Diet 101

Are you raw? Raw diets and cuisine are fast becoming the “it” way to eat—and for good reason. Raw foods are loaded with natural enzymes and maintain the inherent vitamins and nutrients often eliminated from cooking. Studies also show a raw diet can lower cholesterol levels and triglyceride concentrations plus help maintain blood pressure and prevent heart disease. For these reasons and more, we’re introducing a new addition to Palm Beach Illustrated’s Balance section titled "Easy Raw," where we will provide recipes, tips, products and insights into trying and maintaining a raw diet. To begin, we present the five basics of raw eating.

For foods to be considered raw, they cannot be heated above 116 degrees Fahrenheit, while 105 degrees is a good temperature to dehydrate foods.

Your new best friends: fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts and grains. Most raw foodies are also vegans, but raw fish, certain kinds of raw meat and raw, unpasteurized milk can also fit into the diet.

Top raw cooking techniques include sprouting, juicing, blending and dehydrating.

Invest in some good tools, like the Sedona dehydrator ($380) and the Robot-Coupe Magimix food processor ($500). Williams-Sonoma locations (877-812-6235, williams-sonoma.com)